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Monday, December 27, 2010

Our special holiday discounts on olive wood ornaments, magnets and nativity sets, along with all of our other items was so popular during December that we have decided to extend this sale through the month of January in celebration the New Year.

There are only a few hand-carved nativity sets remaining. Each one is made from the highest quality olive wood and is painstakingly carved by local artisans. Save 15% now on any of our in-stock nativity sets, or on any special orders placed during the month of January.

This is a great time to take advantage of reduced prices to procure those special Christmas items you always think of too late when the holidays roll around. Take advantage of our “baker’s dozen” offer on handmade olive wood ornaments - buy twelve and pick another one for free!

Stock-up now on our unique handmade Christmas cards and save 20% on any purchase of single or pre-packaged sets of cards.

Save 10% on any of our jewelry, stoneware, mosaics or other handmade items when you visit our showroom in January.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

From The Earth is pleased to inform our readers of special community events from time-to-time that serve to promote the work of local artisans.

This month we would like to invite you to visit the the Nabad Art Gallery nestled in charming Jabal Amman just off of Rainbow Street. This area is a cultural sub-center attracting many who travel to Amman with its local shops, galleries, and restaurants. The Nabad Art Gallery is an innovative cultural space that showcases contemporary work by established and emerging artists from Jordan and throughout the Levantine region.
From 6 December until 5 January the gallery will feature an exhibit entitled “Trendsetting,” displaying the work of two budding yet accomplished artists, Rula Atalla and Samar Habayeb. The jewelry collection of ceramic artist Rula Atalla will be showcasedalongside the decorative furniture collection of young Jordanian designer, Samar Habayeb.

Atalla’s exhibition is a mixed-media collection of pieces created from beads and tiles made by a group of intellectually-challenged children from Amman. This will be her first exhibition displaying her talents using a medium other than clay.

Habayeb’s work merges contemporary colors with traditional Arabic calligraphy. Her exhibition displays bold furniture fabricated with a variety of materials such as fiberglass, metals, ceramic and resin. She contrasts traditional Islamic motifs with modern materials and design in a marriage of practicality and beauty.

Both of these artists challenge conventional ideas in favor of new perspectives.

The gallery is open daily except Fridays, from 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM, and again from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Did You Know the word “honeymoon” has several sources of origin? Since we at From The Earth are celebrating Nadeen’s, our Workroom Supervisor’s, recent marriage, we felt it only fitting to write this month’s DYK article about the origins of this marriage tradition.

The very first reference to what we might consider a honeymoon comes from the Bible in Deuteronomy 25:5 where it says, “When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.”Don’t you wish we could still follow that precept?!

The Merriam-Webster dictionary reports the etymology of honeymoon as coming from "the idea that the first month of marriage is the sweetest."

Another source for the term may come from the ancient tradition in many parts of Europe where newly married couples were provided with enough mead to last a month, thus ensuring happiness and fertility. (Mead is a light alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey.) Thus, the combination of “honey,” and the idea of a lunar month, “moon,” to get “honeymoon;” or as the French say, "lune de miel."

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

This month the From The Earth family is celebrating the marriage of Nadeen Abdel Kareem Abu-Khairan, our Workroom Supervisor, to Fahed Mohammad al-Farawati. They were married on the 5th of November, and then left on an 8-day honeymoon to Malaysia. Nadeen has been a valuable member of the FTE team for over two years, and we rejoice with her as she and Fahed enter this new phase of life together.

When asked about what she most enjoyed about her time in Malaysia, Nadeen responded, “Playing with the monkeys,” [no reference intended for her husband here! :-) ]

When asked what was most different about her life now that she is married, Nadeen said, “I now have more responsibility at home. I am responsible for the cooking, washing, cleaning, and my husband. In addition, I still have certain responsibilities for my family, and now for my husband’s family as well."

She went on to say that she is “happy to be able to now plan her future with someone she loves, and she is looking forward to the day when she and Fahed will have children.”

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

At From the Earth, we are sponsoring a special Christmas sale during the month of December on all of our stock and inventory.

Save 20% on all individual handmade Christmas cards and sets during the month of December. Send a unique message of love to that special someone this holiday season with one of our handmade Christmas cards.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Did you know that aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are witren, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Monday, November 1, 2010

At From The Earth we are very appreciative for the many distributors in Amman who carry our products and who support our efforts to offer meaningful employment and fair trade opportunities for local artisans.

We are pleased to announce that Readers Book Shop located in the Cozmo Centre near 7th Circle has recently expanded their selection of our handmade cards, and have added new selections of our beautiful Jordan-photo cards along with our 2011 Jordan calendar. They are also now carrying assorted olive wood ornaments and jewelry.

We encourage all of you to visit Readers situated above Cozmo to find the finest selection of books in English and Arabic for young and old. In addition to carrying the most current and popular books in print, they also sport a wonderful children's section which will captivate your young ones with the joy of reading.

Visit Readers Bookstore for your best selection and supply of quality books, and to secure your copy of our new 2011 Jordan Calendar filled with beautiful glossy photos of Jordan while supplies last.

Monday, October 18, 2010

From The Earth is offering 15% off the normal price of all of our olive wood figurines and nativity sets during the month of November. This is a great time to prepare your home for the holidays, or to give a special gift that will become a family treasure for years to come.

Our olive wood figures are made only from top-grade olive wood which has been naturally cured to prevent shrinkage or cracking. Each figurine has been hand-carved and finished to perfection in either a matt or glossy finish.

Delight visitors to your home this year with a beautiful Nativity display, or unique figurines that will add to the joy of the holiday season.

For our Jordan customers, visit our showroom in Amman to take advantage of this offer. For our customers in the United States, visit our online store and use the discount code FTEFIGUR to receive the discounted price on your order.

If you would like to see our complete selection of handmade olive wood figurines, visit our showroom in Amman or our online store.

From The Earth is proud to introduce our all new 2011 Jordan Calendar with many new and exciting features, including:

An all new design

Arabic and English text

A new finish for easier note writing

Each month is highlighted by a beautiful landscape or scene from everyday life in Jordan. Not only will you enjoy the beauty of these top-quality photos, but so will others - consider ordering several for friends!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

A recent opinion article written in the Jordan Times decried the significant deficit between the employment statistics of women versus those of men in Jordan. At From The Earth, we recognize this as a problematic issue in our local community. That is why the employees we seek, employ, and train end-up being predominately women. Though we are “gender blind” in our hiring practices, we do seek those who have been marginalized either by physical or social circumstances in order to provide them meaningful employment and a reasonable chance for success in life.

Where the national employment rate for men in Jordan is two-thirds for males over the age of 15, women make-up less than 15% of the total workforce. At FTE, our employee percentages are just the opposite. This is not the result of attempting to assemble a “cheap” labor force, as we deliberately pay wages considerably higher than the minimum required. We also offer incentive raises and skill training for our employees, along with free English classes during work hours for our employees who would like to improve their marketable skills.

If you would like to know more about how we operate as a business, see “Our Business Model” page on this blog.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

From The Earth is offering a special 15% off promotional sale on all jewelry during the month of October.

Now is a great time to begin stocking-up on unique, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts for that special someone. Let From The Earth be your one-stop shopping place for handmade olive wood jewelry. Our classic olive wood jewelry designs warm the body and soul with their matchless beauty of nature’s time-etched olive wood grain patterns. Each jewelry piece is distinct with no two ever being the same due to the individual patterns woven naturally into our top-quality olive wood.

Choose a matching necklace with earrings, or select one of our beautiful pendants to brighten the smile of that special woman in your life.

We have also designed unique “Friendship Necklaces,” which, when joined together fit like puzzle pieces. Only the pieces from a set will actually fit together, and the entire set is cut from a single piece of wood with the grain running continuously through each piece. In addition to a single pendant puzzle piece, we offer sets of two matching and three matching pendants which are perfect gifts for friends or siblings. (My three daughters wear a set!).

To take advantage of this promotion:

for our customers in Jordan, visit our showroom in Amman during the month of October to receive a 15% discount on all jewelry purchases.

for our customers in the US, enter the code FTEJEWEL at store.ftehome.com to receive 15% off our entire stock of Handmade Olive Wood Jewelry.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Did you know that tree rings actually record history? Dendrochronology is the science of dating past events through the study of tree rings. Each year trees add a new layer of wood to their trunks and branches. This results in the the pattern of "rings" which we see when viewing a cross-cut section of the tree. The size and character of rings actually vary according to weather and climatic patterns allowing scientists to confirm what weather conditions were like in past years. During dry years rings will be thin, while in wet years they will appear relatively thick. Soil properties and catastrophic events such as insect infestations, fire and even human events can also affect rings and provide scientists with nature's own special record of history.

The beauty of tree rings and their magical account of history can be seen in each of our unique olive wood coaster sets. Each set of four coasters are cut from the same branch so they are matched in size and by their distinctive shape(s). They are then sealed with a natural matte finish to ensure their durability and long life.

While enjoying the practical usefulness and beauty of these coasters, allow your imagination to consider the history each ring represents of the land where the tree grew.
Written By: Teresa R. Hendry

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

From The Earth will once again be sponsoring a booth at Souq Jara in Jabal Amman each Friday beginning September 17 through October 29. Souq Jara provides an opportunity for Amman to highlight its cultural charm by showcasing some of Jordan’s finest handicrafts, antiques, paintings and other items. In addition, the festive atmosphere of the Souq provides for a fun family outing with live music and entertainment, games and activities for all ages. From The Earth is proud to support the local community by participating in this event and by showcasing our fine handicraft products produced by local artisans. Please come by to visit us and enjoy the Souq!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

As of July of this year, we began a partnership with American Express in Jordan. As a Selects partner, we are offering 10% off all purchases in our showroom if you use your American Express card. This offer is valid from 1 July 2010 to 30 December 2010.

Monday, September 13, 2010

At From The Earth, we are dedicated to the ideals of social entrepreneurship and fair trade business practices. These ideals are so important to us that they are written into our company’s core values.

Social Entrepreneurship is the implementation of innovative business practices which do not seek profit as the “bottom line” at the expense of individuals or the environment. Rather, the aim of social entrepreneurship is to improve the overall social and economic status of employees and the local community while operating an environmentally responsible business. Social entrepreneurship is characterized by ethical business standards, the payment of fair wages, providing a safe working environment for employees and a determination to solve, not create, social problems. Social entrepreneurs act as “change agents” for society, seizing opportunities to improve existing systems, inventing new approaches for production, and by creating solutions to change society for the better.

Fair Trade is the development of trading partnerships based on dialogue, transparency and respect which seek to provide greater equality in international trade. This manner of doing business goes beyond simply offering fair prices for marketable goods, but is intended to assist marginalized people escape poverty. Fair trade promotes economic sustainability by encouraging people to acquire new job skills, and by providing individuals a suitable living income tied to sound business practices.

If you would like to know more about social entrepreneurship, fair trade, or our business standards and values, visit the Our Business Model page on this blog.

Monday, August 23, 2010

From The Earth is offering a special Ramadan Sale on our select handmade Eid cards and other items from now until September 11th.
Honor someone you love with a unique Eid greeting card that shares the significance of this special occasion. Buy now and receive 20% off on both individual Eid cards, as well as on our sets.

We are also pleased to offer a “baker’s dozen sale” on our collection of Islamic keychains, magnets and ornaments; purchase any combination of 12 during this sale and receive one additional item free!

Looking for a distinctive Eid gift for that special someone? Consider a beautiful gift box from Al-Masbana, one of the oldest and most respected producers of olive oil soap in all the Middle East. Al-Masbana uses only the finest cold-pressed olive oil and other natural ingredients to produce one of the most excellent soaps of its kind. Take 15% off our Al-Masbana collection during Ramadan.

We are also discounting our one-of-a kind olive wood jewelry pieces by 10% during this sale. Our necklaces, bracelets and earrings each uniquely reflect the beauty of one of the Middle East’s most precious commodities, olive wood, and will remain a favored treasure.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the 1st day of Shawwal, which is the month immediately following the month of Ramadan. Ramadan and Shawwal are part of the Islamic lunar calendar, called the Hijri Calendar. Muslims know when Ramadan begins and ends by observing the phases of the moon. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims devote themselves to fasting and by increasing their spiritual devotions.

The Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. Its observance is usually held in a large open place and is attended by hundreds of Muslims. Eid al-Fitr always starts before sunrise on the last day of Ramadan. Participants shower and do ablution (ritual purification), put on new clothes (if possible), then go to the local mosque for the morning prayer of Subh. This is followed by the Takbir, the collective chanting of Allahu akbar (“God is great”), which is then followed by the Eid prayer at sunrise.

The remaining Eid celebrations are held privately with family and friends. During the last week of Ramadan, family members will come together to make special Eid cookies called Mamool which are filled with dates or nuts. During the Eid, people invite friends and relatives to visit, and they generously share food with relatives, friends and the poorer members of the community. Children are also given gifts, and people traditionally buy new clothes for the whole family for the Eid.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Did you know that From The Earth can make custom-designed keychains, magnets or hanging ornaments using your company logo? These items are perfect to give to employees or to those special customers with whom you would like to do continued business.

The process of making a custom olive wood design for your company or business begins with receiving a sample (sketch, photo, or object) of what you envision your item to look like. We also ask that you indicate size, shape, or finish that you would like for us to consider.

We will then create several design possibilities for keychains, magnets, or ornaments. To do this, they must bear in mind that it will ultimately be made of and cut from olive wood. How cuts are to be made, the amount or type of any etching required, along with needed sanding all have to be considered in this draft design.

Once we have created several possible designs, we take them to our olive wood workshop to see if the designs are feasible. Since quality is our aim, we ensure the design can be effectively replicated and that it will not contain any inherent flaws in strength or durability. Sometimes the draft designs need to be modified slightly due to issues of thickness, size, or fragility. Once we settle upon the best design(s), we will cut samples and bring them for your review.

When a sample(s) is selected, your custom olive wood logo is almost ready for production! You can still make some additional modifications at this time (such as adding a rounded edge), if needed. Once a final design is chosen, we will then make a rubber stamp of the design which will be used by the wood-cutter to mass produce your keychain, magnet or ornament.

Since each item is handmade from different pieces of wood, they will all be similar, but individually unique. Differences in wood grain and hue add to the appeal and distinctiveness of each piece making these treasured gifts for your employees or customers!